Greetings from your friendly pro-democracy, pro-community, anti-pessimism Newsletter. As always—local news from YOUR community below. Along with other good news, and a recipe! (I do not get tired of saying this.)
Also this week, as we often do, we bring you a true story about something good that worked. In this case, it's a first-person story—first-person plural, as in: “we.”
The “we” that you will read about here, if you’re curious enough to click, includes myself, my wife and business partner Traci Hukill, and our colleague Mike Kahn. This “we” also includes the oldest land trust in California, the current mayor of Santa Cruz, tens of thousands of Santa Cruz County residents, and one of America’s greatest environmental heroes: former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt. (I am leaving a lot of folks out for lack of space.)
What did we do that deserves memorializing here? We convinced Pres. Barack Obama to protect a beautiful piece of land on Santa Cruz County’s North Coast in perpetuity, and make it available for visitors to love.
The Cotoni Coast Dairies National Monument, named to honor the people who lived there for 7,000 years (pronounced cha-toni) and to recognize the ranchers who worked there for more than 100 years, will forever be protected, and it will soon be open to the public. I got to visit the place a couple weeks ago, and you'll find a short story about how this all happened, along with a virtual tour, by scrolling and clicking your device. ;-)
• Applications Open For Sacramento County Guaranteed Income Program
Applications are open for up to 200 low-income Black and Indigenous families in Sacramento County with children age 5 and under as part of a state-funded one-year guaranteed income pilot program.
(09/23/2024) → CapPublicRadio
• Applications Sought for City of Ripon Poet Laureate
Applications and nominations are open for the position of Poet Laureate for the City of Ripon.
(09/23/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• VotingMatters Event Held at Delta College
A report of the Stocktonia and CalMatters sponsored VotingMatters event held on September 23 at Delta College.
(09/23/2024) → Stocktonia
• San Joaquin County Looks to Manufactured Homes
The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors is considering zoning updates to encourage development of manufactured home projects to provide affordable housing options.
(09/20/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• League of Women’s Voters Holds Delta Trustee Candidate Forum
A voter forum was held on September 19 by the League of Women’s Voters of San Joaquin County for the candidates running for seats on the Delta College Board of Trustees in November.
(09/20/2024) → Stocktonia
• Groundbreaking Celebrates Future Recreation Center
A groundbreaking celebration on September 17 marked the beginning of the new recreation center at El Pescadero Park in Tracy.
(09/20/2024) → Tracy Press
• Tracy Aquatics Center Advances
In their September 17 meeting, the Tracy City Council approved hiring a consultant to create preliminary designs for the proposed aquatics center in the Ellis development on Summit Drive.
(09/20/2024) → Tracy Press
• Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg Delivers State of the City Address
On September 19, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg delivered his last State of the City Address, touching on the accomplishments of his term of office.
(09/19/2024) → CapPublicRadio
• Number of Large Households Growing in Manteca
Using data from the most recent American Community Survey, a consultant for the City of Manteca found that almost 20% of local homes house five or more people.
(09/19/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• Sacramento Approves Small Apartment Buildings in Single-Family Neighborhoods
In their September 17 meeting, the Sacramento City Council approved the construction of apartment buildings of up to three stories in height in neighborhoods designated for single family homes.
(09/18/2024) → CapPublicRadio
• 818 Housing Units Proposed in Manteca
The public is invited to a virtual community meeting is scheduled for September 30 for a presentation about a proposed housing development at Main Street and the 120 bypass in Manteca.
(09/18/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• Ripon Water Use Up Over Last Year
Following a hot summer, residents of the City of Ripon used 5% more water over last year.
(09/18/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• Bonds Proposed to Fund Construction of 100 Apartments
A Los Angeles-based nonprofit proposes $40 million in bonds to finance the construction of 100 units of all-affordable apartments in the North Main Street area of Manteca.
(09/18/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• Manteca Unified Transitioning to Electric School Buses
Plans are underway at the Manteca Unified School District to not only transition to state-mandated electric school buses but to leverage solar and battery storage systems.
(09/17/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• Ripon Fire Station at Full Staffing
With the hiring of two additional firefighter/paramedics, the Ripon Consolidated Fire District Station 1 is now fully staffed.
(09/17/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• Voter Education Event at Delta College on September 23
A "VotingMatters: Ballots & Burritos" voter education event hosted by Stoctonia, CalMatters and San Joaquin Delta College will be held on September 23 at noon at Danner Hall on the Delta College campus.
(09/17/2024) → Stocktonia
• Report on Annual Solidarity Summit on Homelessness
A Solving Sacramento report on the September 7 Solidarity Summit on Homelessness.
(09/16/2024) → CapPublicRadio
• San Joaquin County Considers New Camping Ordinance
An ordinance banning camping on land under county jurisdiction is under consideration by the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors and may come up for a vote in their September 24 meeting.
(09/16/2024) → Stocktonia
• Nonprofits Seek to Get More Women Into Construction Trades
Jessica Alvarez Castañeda was sick of low-paying jobs. For years, the 39-year-old mother of four had been “breaking her back for almost nothing” as a cashier, nursing assistant, babysitter, house cleaner and cook.
(09/22/2024) → CalMatters
• California Rolls Out Career Path Grants to Schools – Nearly a Year Late
After delays and mishaps, California announces $450 million for high school career pathways.
(09/19/2024) → CalMatters
• UC Approves New Less-Lethal Arms for Its Police Force Amid Protest
The UC Regents approved campus requests for more tools for UC police months after campus protesters clashed with law enforcement.
(09/19/2024) → CalMatters
• Why Ricardo Lara Says His Plan to Fix California’s Insurance Crisis Will Work
At a CalMatters event, California’s insurance commissioner says the changes he’s making will help homeowners and business owners. One idea: A state grant for those who spend money to protect their property from wildfires.
(09/19/2024) → CalMatters
• California Drivers Can Get Mobile Licenses on Their iPhones — But They Need Physical Ones Too
California is the seventh U.S. state to adopt mobile driver’s licenses for iPhones, part of a growing push by businesses and governments to make digital IDs commonplace.
(09/19/2024) → CalMatters
• 6 Myths About California Crime as Voters Weigh Ballot Measure on Drugs, Retail Theft
Worries about retail theft and fentanyl deaths shaped a November ballot measure that would toughen some criminal penalties. Here are the facts about California crime trends.
(09/18/2024) → CalMatters
• CalPERS CEO to Earn More Than $1 Million for the First Time Thanks to a Big Performance Bonus
The California Public Employees’ Retirement system is the nation’s largest state-backed pension fund. It awarded its chief executive $667,000 bonus after a successful investment year.
(09/18/2024) → CalMatters
• Disorganization, City-County Feuds Impede California’s Efforts to Reduce Homelessness
Over the last five years, the state government has spent some $24 billion to ameliorate homelessness, which, according to polls, is California’s most troublesome issue.
(09/17/2024) → CalMatters
• Most Maternal Deaths Can Be Prevented. Here’s How California Aims to Cut Them in Half
The California surgeon general is launching a campaign today to spread awareness about health conditions that contribute to pregnancy-related deaths, such as heart disease.
(09/17/2024) → CalMatters
• Election Explainer: Proposition 4
The Sacramento Bee explains the Proposition 4 climate resiliency bond measure on the November ballot.
(09/17/2024) → The Sacramento Bee
• Election Explainer: Proposition 36
The Sacramento Bee explains the Proposition 36 anti-crime measure on the November ballot.
(09/17/2024) → The Sacramento Bee
• Election Explainer: Proposition 32
The Sacramento Bee explains the Proposition 32 minimum wage measure on the November Ballot.
(09/17/2024) → The Sacramento Bee
• Homeless Students Can Sleep Safely in Their Cars at This California College. Other Campuses Say No
Failed legislative bills have attempted to create safe parking programs for students to sleep in their cars on California campuses while awaiting housing. Meanwhile, Long Beach City College allows homeless students to park overnight.
(09/17/2024) → CalMatters
• California’s Cap on Health Care Costs Is the Nation’s Strongest. But Will Patients Notice?
California’s new cap on health care cost increases is regarded as the most aggressive in the nation. It includes potential fines against companies that exceed the limit.
(09/17/2024) → CalMatters
